Biography
Troy Andrews, known as Trombone Shorty, was born on January 2, 1986, in New Orleans, Louisiana, into a family steeped in the city’s musical traditions. He began playing trombone at age four, inspired by his brother James, and quickly became a local sensation, leading his own band by age six and performing at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival as a child. Growing up in the Tremé neighborhood, Andrews was immersed in brass band culture, participating in second line parades and absorbing a wide range of influences—jazz, funk, rock, hip-hop, and soul—that would later define his genre-blending style. He attended the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA), a prestigious arts high school, and graduated from Warren Easton High School in 2004.
Andrews’ career took off in his teens as a member of the Stooges Brass Band, and he gained wider recognition after joining Lenny Kravitz’s horn section for a world tour in 2005. He formed Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, a band known for its high-energy fusion of brass band rhythms, rock dynamics, and improvisational jazz. Andrews has released multiple acclaimed albums, including Grammy-nominated Backatown (2010) and Blue Note Records’ Parking Lot Symphony (2017). Beyond performing, he is a dedicated music educator, founding the Trombone Shorty Foundation to nurture young musicians and preserve New Orleans’ brass band heritage. His legacy lies in revitalizing traditional New Orleans sounds for contemporary audiences and inspiring a new generation of musicians.
Fun Facts
- Trombone Shorty got his nickname because he was so small when he started playing trombone in parades as a child.
- He made his film debut voicing the trombone sounds for adult characters in The Peanuts Movie (2015).
- His illustrated autobiography for young readers, Trombone Shorty, was named a 2016 Caldecott Honor Book by the American Library Association.
- Andrews’ parents opened a nightclub called Trombone Shorty’s in Tremé, where he played as a child.
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Cyril Neville - Andrews calls Neville 'a second father' and credits him as a major mentor since his youth (N/A) [1990s–present]
- James Andrews - Older brother who gave Troy his first trombone and early musical guidance (12 & Shorty (2004)) [Childhood]
Key Collaborators
- Lenny Kravitz - Featured member of Kravitz’s horn section on a world tour (N/A)
- Orleans Avenue (band) - Bandleader and frontman of his own group, known for high-energy live shows (All Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue albums) [2000s–present]
- New Orleans Social Club - Member of post-Katrina benefit collective (Sing Me Back Home (2006)) [Mid-2000s]
- Little Big Town - Performed together at the 2016 Academy of Country Music Awards (Live performance of 'Stay All Night')
Artists Influenced
- Students at Trombone Shorty Academy - Direct mentorship through his foundation and music academy (N/A) [2014–present]
- Young New Orleans musicians - Inspires next generation through community engagement and education (N/A) [2000s–present]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Backatown | 2010-01-01 | Album |
| Parking Lot Symphony | 2017-04-28 | Album |
| Say That To Say This | 2013-01-01 | Album |
| For True | 2011-01-01 | Album |
Top Tracks
- Something Beautiful (Backatown)
- Hurricane Season (Backatown)
- Tripped Out Slim (Parking Lot Symphony)
- Hold Up, Wait a Minute
- Backatown (Backatown)
- Cineramascope (Ya-Ka-May (Deluxe Edition))
- 7-T's (Laid Black)
- Vieux Carre (Say That To Say This)
- Shortyville (Say That To Say This)
- Overnight (feat. Trombone Shorty) (Uncaged)
External Links
Tags: #jazz, #jazz-funk
Heard on WWOZ
Trombone Shorty has been played 33 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.